Avian Decoy

ABSTRACT

An avian decoy including a decoy body; a stake having an upper end for rotatably supporting the decoy body, and having a lower end for being anchored to a support surface; and a guide for guiding the upper end of the stake into proper position in the decoy body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to avian decoys, andprimarily to standing duck and geese decoys, etc., adapted to rotateback and forth, side-to-side about a vertical axis.

2. Background Art

It is often desired to have a decoy spread (a plurality of decoysarranged on a field or the like) with one or more of the decoysproviding a wind generated, side-to-side movement about a substantiallyvertical axis. The prior art discloses windsock-type decoys, or hardbodied decoys rotatably mounted on vertical stakes.

Such decoy spreads are typically set in the field well before daylightand the ease of setting up the individual decoys is critical. Whilewindsock-type decoys are normally fixedly attached to stakes so they canbe set up quickly as one piece units, stakes for hard bodied rotatablydecoys are set up first and then the decoy bodies are set onto the topof the stakes, typically causing the user to align the top of the stakeswith small holes in the bottom of the decoy bodies, which is difficultand time consuming.

Another problem with prior art decoys is that they typically includerigid leg portions which often break off during transport to and fromthe field and sometimes drag or become tangled when the decoys are setup in snow or fields with high vegetation, thus interfering with themovement of the decoy bodies.

Another problem with prior art decoys is the space required to transportand store hard bodied decoys. One solution is to make such decoys withseparate head and body portions for easy transport and storage, but theuser must be extra careful when attaching the head and body portionstogether to insure that the head portion is properly positioned on thebody portion.

Nothing in the know prior art discloses or suggests the presentinvention.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an avian decoy adapted to rotate back andforth about a vertical axis.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an easy-to-use,avian decoy, e.g., a standing duck or goose decoy, that has windgenerated, side-to-side movement about a substantially vertical axis.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a decoywith a stake for supporting a decoy body, and means for guiding theupper end of the stake into the decoy body.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a decoywith movable leg stubs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a decoywith movable leg stubs that can be folded inside the decoy body.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a decoywith means for limiting the rotation of the decoy body on the stake.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a decoywith means for attaching and properly positioning a head portion on abody portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the aviandecoy of the present invention showing a first embodiment of a stakethereof.

FIG. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic top plan view of the decoy of FIG. 1,showing the range of motion of the decoy body thereof about a verticalaxis in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is as a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the decoyof the FIG. 1, with portions thereof broken away for clarity, showing afirst embodiment of a directional stop means thereof.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the decoy of FIG. 1, with portionsthereof broken away for clarity, showing the first embodiment of thedirectional stop means.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view substantially as taken on line 5-5of FIG. 4 with portions thereof broken away for clarity and partsthereof shown in moved positions in broken lines.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of portions of the decoy of FIG. 1,with portions thereof broken away for clarity, showing the firstembodiment of the directional stop means.

FIG. 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic sectional view substantially as takenon line 7-7 of FIG. 6, showing the range of motion of parts of thedirectional stop means thereof in broken lines.

FIG. 8 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevational view of the aviandecoy of the present invention showing second embodiments of the stakeand directional stop means.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of portions of the decoy of FIG. 8,with portions thereof broken away for clarity.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view of the decoy of FIG. 8, showing the rangeof motion of the decoy body thereof about a vertical axis in brokenlines.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view substantial as taken on line 11-11 of FIG.8.

FIG. 12 is a somewhat diagrammatic, exploded view of a first embodimentof an accurately positionable, removable head portion of the decoy bodyof the avian decoy of the present invention, with portions thereofbroken away for clarity.

FIG. 13 is a bottom plan view of the neck of the head portion of thedecoy body of FIG. 12 with portions thereof omitted for clarity.

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the neck of the body portion of the decoybody of FIG. 12 with portions thereof broken away for clarity.

FIG. 15 is a somewhat diagrammatic, assembled view of the accuratelypositionable, removable head portion of FIG. 12.

FIG. 16 is a somewhat diagrammatic, exploded view of a second embodimentof an accurately positionable, removable head portion of the decoy bodyof the avian decoy of the present invention, with portions thereofbroken away for clarity.

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of the neck of the head portion of thedecoy body of FIG. 16 with portions thereof omitted for clarity.

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the neck of the body portion of the decoybody of FIG. 16 with portions thereof broken away for clarity.

FIG. 19 is a somewhat diagrammatic, assembled view of the accuratelypositionable, removable head portion of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An avian decoy of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-19 andidentified by the numeral 11.

The decoy 11 includes, in general, a decoy body 13, a stake 15 forsupporting the decoy body 13 on a support surface S such as the ground;and guide means 17 for guiding the stake 15 into the decoy body 13.

The decoy body 13 includes a head portion 19 and a body portion 21. Thedecoy body 13 may be constructed as a one piece, integral unit or may beconstructed as a multi-piece construct with, for example, the headportion 19 and body portion 21 being constructed as separate unitsjoined to one another via an attachment means 22 for removably attachingthe head portion 19 to the body portion 21 and for properly positioningthe head portion 19 on the body portion 21 in a manner as willhereinafter be fully disclosed. The decoy body 13 may be molded orotherwise constructed out of various materials such as plastic (e.g.,polyvinyl chloride—PVC) in various shapes and sizes to have theappearance of a duck, goose, or the like. The actual construction, size,and appearance of the decoy body 13 may vary depending on the user'sdesires. Thus, the decoy body 13 may have the general appearance of afeeder goose, looker goose, active goose, etc., as will now be apparentto those skilled in the art. The bottom of the decoy body 13 has anaperture 23 for receiving one end of the stake 15. At least a portion ofthe decoy body 13 has a hollow interior 25 for receiving at least aportion of the guide means 17, with the aperture 23 communicating withor opening into the hollow interior 25.

First and second leg stubs 27 are preferably attached to the decoy body13, one on either sides of the aperture 23 to represent the avian legs.Each leg stub 27 is preferably movably attached to the decoy body 13,and can preferably be folded inside the decoy body 13 (i.e., into thehollow interior 25). Each leg stub 27 includes a generally conicalcylinder 29 molded or otherwise constructed out of various materialssuch as plastic (e.g., polyvinyl chloride—PVC) in various specificshapes and sizes to have the appearance of the leg of a duck, goose, orthe like, and an elongated elastic cord 31 extending through arespective cylinder 29 and a small hole 33 in recesses 35 provided inthe decoy body 13 adjacent the aperture 23, with knots 37 tied in eachend of the elastic cord 31 to thereby movably secure the cylinders 29 tothe decoy body 13 (i.e., the elastic cords 31 will stretch to allow thecylinders 29 to be moved on the decoy body 13). The elastic cords 31allows the decoy 11 to be tossed around without worrying that the legstubs 27 will be damaged or broken off. If the leg stubs 27 are bumpedthey will bend and then spring back to the erect position. Further, theelastic cords 31 allow the leg stubs 27 to be manually folded inside thedecoy body 13 as shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. Folding the leg stubs27 inside the decoy body 13 is useful when using the decoy 11 is used inheavy snow or in fields with heavy stubble that might otherwise engagethe leg stubs 27 and restrict motion of the decoy body 13, etc. Slots 38may be provided in opposite sides of the aperture 23 to allow a portionof the cord 31 to extend therethrough when the leg stubs 27 are foldedinside the decoy body 13 (see FIGS. 4, 5 and 10). The leg stubs 27 givethe illusion of real legs and feet. However, since the leg stubs 27 areshortened, they will not likely cause the decoy body 13 to hang up inheavy snow or in fields with tall vegetation, etc.

The stake 15 has an upper end 39 for rotatably supporting the decoy body13 (see FIGS. 6 and 9) and a lower end 41 for being anchored to thesupport surface S (see FIGS. 1, 8 and 11). The stake 15 may be machined,cut or otherwise constructed out of various materials such as a rigidmetal rod in various specific shapes and sizes to support the decoy body13 and be easily anchored to the support surface S. The lower end 41 ofthe stake 15 may be pointed for being inserted or pushed into thesupport surface S (see, in general, FIG. 1), or may have an enlargedbase (e.g., may be bent into an opened, flat circle) for resting on topof the support surface S (see, in general, FIGS. 8 and 11).

The guide means 17 is designed for guiding the upper end 39 of the stake15 into proper position in the decoy body 13. The guide means 17preferably includes a funnel 43 for guiding the upper end 39 of thestake 15 into proper position. The funnel 43 is preferably positionedinside the decoy body 13, within, for example, the hollow interior 25.The funnel 43 may be molded or otherwise constructed out of variousmaterials such as plastic (e.g., polyvinyl chloride—PVC) in variousspecific shapes and sizes. Preferably, the funnel 43 has an conicalshaped inner surface or face 45 with a relatively large lower end 47which tapers inwardly and to a relatively small upper end 49 so thatwhen the upper end 39 of the stake 15 enters the aperture 23 in thebottom of the decoy body 13, it will engage the inner face 45 of thefunnel 43 at the relatively large lower end 47 and slide upward andinwardly along the inner face 45 to the relatively small upper end 49.While the size of the funnel 43 may vary, for a typical size duck decoythe funnel 43 may have a diameter at the lower end 47 of approximately3.5 inches (approximately 8.89 centimeters), and a diameter at the upperend 49 of approximately 0.75 inches (approximately 1.905 centimeters).

The funnel 43 is preferably fixedly attached to the decoy body 13 by wayof, for example, a bolt 51 which extends through the back of the decoybody 13, into the hollow interior 25 of the decoy body 13, and throughthe upper end 49 of the funnel 43, and a nut 53 which coacts with thebolt 51 to securely mount the funnel 43 at the desired location withinthe hollow interior 25 of the decoy body 13 (see FIG. 6). Alternatively,the upper end 49 of the funnel 43 may have an internally threadedaperture 55 therein and the bolt 51 may screw directly into the threadedaperture 55 to secure the funnel 43 to the decoy body 13 (see FIG. 9).In either case, a resilient washer 57 is preferably positioned betweenthe upper end of the funnel 37 and the inner wall of the decoy body 13to provide shock absorbency and the like. The washer 57 is preferablymanufactured out of neoprene or the like. The washer 57 provides supportand reduces side to side movement of the funnel 43. As shown mostclearly in FIG. 3, the decoy body 13 typically has an arch above wherethe funnel 43 is attached at a natural balance point of the decoy body13, and the washer 57 helps fill the inside void create by the arch. Thefunnel 43 is preferably mounted at the balancing point within theinterior 25 of the decoy body 13 (i.e., the point where the decoy body13 can be supported on the upper end 39 of the stake 15 in a normal,standing position). This balancing point can be found by supporting thedecoy body 13 on a sharp pointed object that extends into the interior25 and moving or adjusting the decoy body 13 until the decoy body 13 isperfectly balanced on the sharp pointed object. Then, a small hole 58 ismade through the back of the decoy body 13 through which the shaft ofthe bolt 51 is extended (see FIGS. 3 and 9). The funnel 43 can then beattached to the bolt 51 and will be mounted at the balancing point.

A pivot member 59 is preferably provided inside the decoy body 13 forrotatably coacting with the upper end 33 of the stake 15. In theconstruction shown in FIG. 6, the pivot member 59 is formed by the lowerend of the bolt 51. More specifically, in the construction shown in FIG.6, the lower end of the bolt 51 is sharped to a fine point to form thepivot member 59, and the upper end 33 of the stake 15 preferably has aconcave surface 60 for rotatably supporting the pivot peg 51 and, thus,the decoy body 13. The sharped, fine point on the lower end of the bolt51 that forms the pivot member 59 will reduce friction and allow foreasy movement of the decoy body 13 about the pivot member 59. In theconstruction shown in FIG. 9, the pivot member 59 is formed by a concavesurface in the upper end 49 of the inner face 45 of the funnel 43, andthe upper end 39 of the stake 15 is completely rounded or semi-sphericalfor rotatably supporting the concave upper end 49 of the funnel 43 and,thus, the decoy body 13. This roundness of the upper end 39 of the stake15 allows the decoy body 13 to move freely on the stake 15 with norestriction. In both embodiments, the upper end 33 of the stake 15 issubstantially blunt. Since most hunters put their decoys out in thefield well before daylight, having the upper end 33 of the set-up stakes15 substantially blunt improves the safety of the decoy spread in theevent that someone might trip and fall on one or more up-right stakes15, etc. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the sharpened point of thelower end of the bolt 51 that forms the pivot member 59 is locatedwithin the hollow interior 25 of the decoy body 13 where it can hurt noone, leaving only the blunt, concave surface 60 of the upper end 39 ofthe stake 15 exposed during decoy set-up in the field, etc.

The decoy 11 preferably includes directional stop means 61 for limitingthe rotation of the decoy body 13 on the stake 15. The directional stopmeans 61 preferably includes a first stop member 63 attached to thestake 15, and a coacting second stop member 65 attached to the decoybody 13 for engaging the first stop member 63 when the decoy body 13 hasrotated a desired amount in a first direction on the stake 15 and forpreventing further rotation of the decoy body 13 in that firstdirection. The first stop member 63 preferably includes an arm member 67extending from the stake 15. The second stop member 65 preferablyincludes a first bumper member 69 for engaging the arm member 67 whenthe decoy body 13 has rotated in a first direction a desired amount, anda second bumper member 71 for engaging the arm member 67 when the decoybody 13 has rotated in a second direction a desired amount.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6 and 7, the arm member 67 of thefirst stop member 63 may consist of a single, elongated arm or fingerextending rewardly from the stake 15, and the funnel 43 of the guidemeans 17 preferably has a slot 73 therein for receiving the arm member67 with a first side or side edge 75 of the slot 73 forming or definingthe first bumper member 69, and with a second side or side edge 77 ofthe slot 73 forming or defining the second bumper member 71. In thisembodiment of the stake 15, the upper end 39 thereof (with the concavesurface 60) and the arm member 67 may be molded or otherwise constructedout of plastic or the like as a one-piece, integral unit, fixedlyattached to the shaft-like lower end of the stake 15 with glue or thelike as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. As shownsomewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 7, when the decoy body 13 fullyrotates in a first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise), the arm member67 will engage or bump against the first side edge 75 to prevent furtherrotation of the decoy body 13 in that first direction, and when thedecoy body 13 fully rotates in a second direction (e.g., clockwise), thearm member 67 will engage or bump against the second side edge 77 toprevent further rotation of the decoy body 13 in that second direction.In this embodiment, both the first stop member 63 (i.e., the arm member67) and the second stop member 65 (i.e., the first and second bumpermembers 69, 71) are positioned within the hollow interior 25 of thedecoy body 13.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the arm member 67 of thefirst stop member 63 may consist of a pair of elongated arms or fingersextending rewardly from the stake 15 in a V-shaped manner (or mayconsist of a single elongated arm or finger extending rearward from thestake 15 and being generally V-shaped when view in plan), and the firstand second leg stubs 27 form or define the first and second bumpermembers 69, 71. In this embodiment, the arm member 67 may be molded orotherwise constructed out of plastic or the like as a one-piece,integral unit, and fixedly attached to the stake 15 via a friction fitor the like as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Asshown somewhat diagrammatically in FIG. 10, when the decoy body 13 fullyrotates in a first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise), the arm member67 will engage or bump against one leg stub 27 to prevent furtherrotation of the decoy body 13 in that first direction, and when thedecoy body 13 fully rotates in a second direction (e.g., clockwise), thearm member 67 will engage or bump against the other leg stub 27 toprevent further rotation of the decoy body 13 in that second direction.The elastic cord 31 used to mount the leg stubs 27 to the decoy body 13creates a spring that causes the decoy body 13 to bounce back in theopposite direction when the arm member 67 engages or bumps againsteither leg stub 27, giving the decoy 11 a walking effect. In thisembodiment, both the first stop member 63 (i.e., the arm member 67) andthe second stop member 65 (i.e., the leg stubs 27) are positioned belowthe decoy body 13. Further, if more decoy motion is desired, the armmember 67 can be slid down the stake 15 to a point when it does notengage either leg stub 27.

A first embodiment of the attachment means 22 for removably attachingthe head portion 19 to a separate body portion 21 and for properlypositioning the head portion 19 on the body portion 21 is shown in FIGS.12-15. A second embodiment of the attachment means 22 for removablyattaching the head portion 19 to a separate body portion 21 and forproperly positioning the head portion 19 on the body portion 21 is shownin FIGS. 16-19. In both embodiments, the attachment means 22 includes afirst male member 79 and a first female member 81 for coacting with oneanother to attach the head portion 19 to said body portion 21. Inaddition, the attachment means 22 includes a second male member 83 and asecond female member 85 for coacting with one another to properlyposition the head portion 19 on the body portion 21. The first andsecond male members 79, 83 are preferably on head portion 19, while thefirst and second female members 81, 85 are preferably in the bodyportion 21. Both of these attachment means 22 provide a double lockingsystem for removably attaching the head portion 19 to a separate bodyportion 21 and for properly positioning the head portion 19 on the bodyportion 21.

In the first embodiment of the attachment means 22 shown in FIGS. 12-15,the first male member 79 includes a first thread portion 87, and thefirst female member 81 includes a second thread portion 89 for screwablycoacting with said first thread-like member of the first male member.79. The first thread portion 87 may consist of one or more outwardlyboss members extending outwardly from the body of the first male member79 as clearly shown in FIGS. 12, 13 and 15; and the second threadportion 89 may consist of slots in the wall of the first female member81 as clearly shown in FIGS. 12, 14 and 15, and for coacting with theboss members of the first thread portion 87 so that the head member 19can merely be screwed onto the body portion 21 with the boss members ofthe first thread portion 87 engaging the slots of the second threadportion 89 to thus attach the head and body portions 19, 21 together,and can merely be unscrewed from the body portion 21 to separate thehead and body portions 19, 21 as will now be apparent to those skilledin the art.

In the second embodiment of the attachment means 22 shown in FIGS.16-19, the first male member 79 includes a snap-type projection 91, andthe first female member 81 consist simply of an aperture or hole 93 inthe body portion 21 for receiving the snap-type projection 91 so thatthe head member 19 can merely be pushed down onto the body portion 21with the snap-type projection 91 being forced into the hole 93 to thusattach the head and body portions 19, 21 together, and can merely bepulled away from the body portion 21 to separate the head and bodyportions 19, 21 as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In both embodiments of the of the attachment means 22, the second malemember 83 preferably includes a hemispherical ball 95, and the secondfemale member 85 preferably includes a hemispherical concavity 97 forreceiving the hemispherical ball 95 of the second male member 83 tothereby lock the head portion 19 in the proper position on the bodyportion 21 as will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Thehemispherical ball 95 preferably depend down from the head portion 19while the hemispherical concavity 97 preferably depends into the bodyportion 21 as clearly shown in FIGS. 12-19.

The operation and use of the decoy 11 is quite simple. If the decoy body13 has separate head and body portions 19, 21, the head portion 19 ismerely screwed onto the body portion 21 (see FIGS. 12-15) or pushed ontothe body portion 21 (see FIGS. 16-19), and rotated until thehemispherical ball 95 snaps into the hemispherical cavity 97 to insureproper positioning of the head portion 19 on the body portion 21. Thelower end 41 of the stake 15 is merely pushed or otherwise inserted inthe support surface S (see FIG. 1) or sat on top of the support surfaceS (see FIG. 8) at the desired location with the longitudinal axis of thestake 15 arranged generally vertical. Next, the decoy body 13 is merelyinserted over the upper end 39 of the stake 15 by placing the aperture23 in the bottom of the decoy body 13 over the upper end 39 of the stake15 so that the upper end 39 of the stake 15 will pass through theaperture 23 into the hollow interior 25 of the decoy body 13 as thedecoy body 13 is lowered onto the stake 15. As the decoy body 13 is solowered, the upper end 39 of the stake 15 will engage the inner face 45of the funnel 43 and the guide means 17 will guide the upper end 39 ofthe stake 15 into proper position in the decoy body 13 (e.g., with thepointed end of the bolt 51 rotatably supported on the concave surface 60of the upper end 39 of the stake 15 as shown in FIG. 6; or with theconcave surface in the upper end 49 of the inner face 45 of the funnel43 rotatably supported on the spherical upper end 43 of the stake 15 asshown in FIG. 9). With the pivot member 59 (i.e., the pointed end of thebolt 51 or the concave surface in the upper end 49 of the funnel 43)located generally at the “balance point” of the decoy body 13, the stake15 will support the decoy body 13 in a stable, upright position. Theguide means 17 allows the hunter or other user of the decoy 11 to placethe decoy body 13 on the stake 15 with ease in the dark. Thus when thehunter places aperture 23 in the bottom of the decoy body 13 over thestake 15 and drops the decoy body 13 downward, the funnel 43 guides thedecoy body 13 onto the stake 15 until the upper end 39 of the stake 15engages the pivot member 59. This will also guide the arm member 67either generally into the slot 73 (in the embodiment of the directionalstop means 61 shown, for example, in FIG. 4) or between the two stublegs 27 (in the embodiment of the directional stop means 61 shown, forexample, in FIG. 10). Wind W (see FIGS. 2 and 10) will then cause thedecoy body 13 to rotate back and forth an amount as indicated by thearrows 99 in FIGS. 2 and 10 and as limited by the directional stop means61, so that the front of the decoy body 13 will face generally into thewind. Movement of the decoy body 13 on the stake 15 will be created withas little as 5 miles per hour wind. Slight changes in direction of thewind will cause the decoy body 13 to rotate on the stake 15. Thedirectional stop means 61 will allow the decoy body 13 to move in thewind but limits the rotation to basically keep the decoy body 13 facinginto the wind. Without the directional stop means 61, high winds wouldcause the decoy body 13 to spin in circles, creating a very un-naturallook.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated withrespect to preferred embodiments and a preferred use therefor, it is notto be so limited since modifications and changes can be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of the invention.

1-21. (canceled)
 22. An avian decoy comprising: (a) a body portion; (b)a head portion; and (c) attachment means for removably attaching saidhead portion to said body portion and for properly positioning said headportion on said body portion.
 23. The decoy of claim 22 in which saidattachment means includes a first male member and a first female memberfor coacting with one another to attach said head portion to said bodyportion; and in which said attachment means includes a second malemember and a second female member for coacting with one another toproperly position said head portion on said body portion.
 24. The decoyof claim 23 in which said first male member includes a first threadportion, and in which said first female member includes a second threadportion for screwably coacting with said first thread portion of saidfirst male member.
 25. The decoy of claim 23 in which said first malemember is on said head portion; and in which said first female member isin said body portion.
 26. The decoy of claim 23 in which said secondmale member includes a hemispherical ball; and in which said secondfemale member includes a hemispherical concavity for receiving saidhemispherical ball of said second male member.
 27. The decoy of claim 26in which said hemispherical ball is on said head portion; and in whichsaid hemispherical concavity is in said body portion.